Question 1

Which of the following best describes the relationship between Moche's elite and poorer classes?

Accepted Answer

The Moche civilization, which flourished in northern Peru from about 100 to 800 CE, had a hierarchical social structure. The elite class, which included priests and warriors, held significant power and wealth, often demonstrated through elaborate tombs and artifacts. The poorer classes, in contrast, lived more modestly and were likely required to provide labor (corvée labor) to the elite, such as in the construction of pyramids, irrigation projects, and other public works. This labor system and the distinct living conditions underscore the social stratification within the Moche society.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT true regarding the Moche people?

Accepted Answer

The Moche, an ancient Andean civilization, did not develop a complex writing system. This distinction is often attributed to the Maya of Mesoamerica, not South American civilizations like the Moche.

Question 3

The discoveries made at Sipán tell us what about Moche society?

Accepted Answer

The discoveries at Sipán, particularly the tomb of the Lord of Sipán, revealed the Moche's practice of burying their elites with a vast array of wealth, including gold, silver, and ceremonial items, indicating the display of great wealth and power among the Moche elites.

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the political structure of the Moche people?

Accepted Answer

The Moche civilization, which flourished in northern Peru from about 100 to 800 CE, was not a unified empire but rather a collection of autonomous polities sharing a common culture, including art, architecture, and religious beliefs. This structure is more akin to the city-states of the Maya civilization than to a unified empire or a republic.

Question 5

The Nazca site of Cahuachi can best be described as a

Accepted Answer

Cahuachi is primarily known as a ceremonial center associated with the Nazca culture. It was not a bustling city, military fort, or a palatial complex, but rather a place where rituals and ceremonies were conducted.

Question 6

Which of the following is a distinct feature of the Nazca people?

Accepted Answer

The Nazca people are renowned for creating the Nazca Lines, a series of large ancient geoglyphs in the Nazca Desert, in southern Peru. These geoglyphs, which include various shapes and figures, are a distinct feature of the Nazca culture.

Question 7

The Nazca differed from the Moche in which way?

Accepted Answer

The Nazca society was organized as a loose confederation of clans, which contrasts with the Moche, who had a more hierarchical and centralized social structure with a ruling elite that oversaw their territories.

Question 8

Which of the following contributed to the decline of the Moche and Nazca peoples?

Accepted Answer

The decline of the Moche and Nazca peoples is attributed to drastic climatic changes, such as El Niño events, which disrupted their agricultural systems and societies.

Question 9

The structure of Moche society may have led to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The structure of Moche society, which was highly hierarchical, likely created social tensions between the elite and common classes. This stratification could have contributed to internal conflicts and ultimately to the decline of the Moche civilization.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT true of all the civilizations of Mesoamerica and South America discussed in this chapter?

Accepted Answer

Not all civilizations of Mesoamerica and South America developed a system of writing. For example, the Inca civilization, despite its complexity and extensive territory, relied on a system of knotted strings called quipus for record-keeping and communication, rather than a traditional form of writing.

Question 11

Discuss the rise of the Teotihuacán empire. How was Teotihuacán society organized, and what type of ruling structure prevailed? What were some of the notable achievements of the Teotihuacán empire, and what factors contributed to its ultimate demise?

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Describe the Mayan civilization. What were the guiding political, social, economic, and religious principles of Mayan society? What type of relationship did the Maya have with neighboring peoples in Mesoamerica? What are some of the theories scholars have proposed to explain the decline of the Maya?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the Mayan civilization. What were the...

Question 13

Examine some of the achievements of the Mayan people. What were some of the notable cultural and scientific discoveries of the Maya, and what do these discoveries tell us about Mayan society?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Examine some of the achievements of the...

Question 14

Compare and contrast the communities of the Adena and the Hopewell to those of Mesoamerica and South America. In what ways were these societies similar, and what ways were they different? What do their similarities and differences tell us about life in the early Americas?

Accepted Answer

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Question 15

Explore the people of Chav'n de Huántar. What does archaeological evidence tell us about Chav'n society? How did Chav'n interact with other regional powers? How did Chav'n society differ from communities in Mesoamerica?

Accepted Answer

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Question 16

Describe the rise and fall of the Moche and Nazca people. What are some of the notable features of these societies? What can we discern about the ruling and social structure of the Moche and Nazca? What factors may have contributed to their eventual collapse?

Accepted Answer

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Question 17

Compare the rise of complex societies and empires in Mesoamerica and South America to those of Afroeurasia. What did these societies share in common, and how did they differ? What do comparisons between these two regions tell us about the nature and character of early complex civilizations?

Accepted Answer

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Quiz 9: American Complexities, 900 B.C.E-900 C.E